Kang edges Boutier to capture first title of LPGA return

It was the fourth career title for the 27-year-old American, whose first win was a major, the 2017 Women’s PGA Championship, and whose other two came at Shanghai in 2018 and 2019.

“I worked really hard for the last seven months,” Kang said. “I’m really excited right now.”

Kang fired a two-under par 70 to finish 54 holes at Iverness Club in Toledo, Ohio, on 7-under 209, one shot better than Boutier, who missed a four-foot birdie putt on the last hole that would have forced a playoff.

Boutier was alone in second after a closing 71 with Australian Minjee Lee third on 212, Japan’s Yui Kawamoto fourth on 213 and England’s Jodi Ewart Shadoff fifth on 214 after a closing 75.

The LPGA managed to play only two events in January in the United States and two more in February in Australia before the season was stopped by the global pandemic.

The comeback event, played without spectators on the host course for next year’s Solheim Cup team matches between US and European teams, was played ahead of next week’s LPGA Marathon Classic in nearby Sylvania so players could stay in the same area for both events, easing concerns about contracting the deadly virus.

The LPGA return came with safeguards and social distancing protocols that were apparent on the 18th green as Kang celebrated her victory.

Friends wearing masks poured champagne on Kang while she made hugging gestures with her arms, in place of the embraces that would have followed the victory before the virus outbreak.

Kang birdied the par-5 second and par-4 fourth to grab an early edge over Boutier, who shared the lead with Kang and Shadoff when the day began but fell three adrift after a bogey at the par-3 fifth.

Boutier matched a Kang birdie at the par-4 11th, then birdied the par-3 12th, watched Kang bogey the par-5 13th, and birdied the par-4 14th to grab a share of the lead and all of the momentum.

Kang missed an eight-foot birdie putt at 15 but Boutier lipped out a six-foot par putt, the ball hitting the left edge and staying out for a bogey that put Kang back in front.

At the par-4 18th, Kang had a 12-foot birdie putt to clinch the victory but missed and settled for her fifth par in a row to close out the round.

Boutier had a chance at a birdie to force a playoff, but her putt lipped off the left edge and she settled for par and second place.

“I think just keeping patience and trusting all aspects of your golf game brings it out in your golf game,” Kang said.

“You have got to respect the golf course. Even little putts I didn’t take it for granted.”